Typewriting-machine



H. A. FOOTHORAP.

TYPEWRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUGJY. me.

Patent-ed J 11116 28, 192 1.

2 SHEETS-SHEET x.

I'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY ARTHUR FOO'HHORAY, OF HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, A SSIGNOR TO ELLIOTT-FISHER COMPANY, OF HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, A. CORPORA- 'rron or DELAWARE TYPEWRITING-MACHHVE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J 11113 28, 1921,

Original application filed December 14,1914, Seria1'1l'o."877,216. Divided and this application filed. August 17, 1918. Serial No. 250,316.

To all whom it may concern 1 Be it known that I, HARRY. ARTHUR Foo'rHoRAr, citizen of the United States of America, residing at Harrisburg, in the county of Dauphin and State of Pennsyl- Vania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Typewriting-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a novel line finder mechanism adapted more particularly for use in Connection with machines of that type characterized by a stationary platen and downwardly actingprinting mechanism.

The mechanism shownin the accompanying drawings is also shown and described 1n applicants copending application for Letters Patent of the United States Serial No. 877 ,216,filed Dec. 14, 1914, of which this is a division. Only so much of themechanism disclosed in said copending application as is necessary to the understanding ofthe features of the invention claimed herein is shown and described in the present application. For .a complete description of the mechanism herein shown. and its associated parts reference may be had tosaid copending application.

The object of the invention, speaking generally, is to provide an efficient and economical line finder for a fiat platen typewriter of the visible writing type. y

H In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of an Elliott- Fisher billing machine carriage provided with my line finding mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the same showing the line finding mechanism in side elevation. y y i Fig. 3 isa bottom plan view of the same.

Fig. tis anenlarged vertical section of the same showing in dotted lines the finder advanced to the printing point. a a

, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the line finder and its operating meansattached to a portion of the carriage frame.

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective of the line finder. f

Fig. 7 is an enlargedplan view of the line finder. i

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the ribbon vibrator bracket.

Fig. 9 is a similar view of the vibrator.

The machine to which invention is shown applied is what is known as the Elliott-Fisher billing machine which is of that type in which the platen is stationary across the machine, and how its feed is effected and controlled.

To the under side of the front bar 3 of the type ring 3 is screwed or otherwise secured, immediately opposite the printing point, a guide bracket 4 substantially U- shape in cross section and serving as a combined vibrator and line finder guide. From the'vertioal' side of the bracket 4 a pair of parallel arms:5 extend rearwardly, connected at their rear ends'by the camming and guiding bar 6 of aline finder, to be described, and supporting a pair of rearwardly extended and laterally deflected supporting and guiding fingers 7 having vertically disposed front ends. 8 having oppositely opening kerfs 9 in their outer edges. These kerfs or notches 9 are designed for the, reception of the guide flanges. 10 of the ribbon vibrator 11 and. occupying a horizontal plane somewhat elevated, relative to the depressed body portion of the vibrator. The guide flanges 10. are formed by bending into a horizontal plane the upper edge of a pair of inclined ribbon guides 12 formed at the opposite sides of the rear end of the vibrator and disposed at opposite angles at. substantially forty-five degrees. .Disposed opposite the outer or under-side of eachof these ribbon guides 12 are a pair of oppositely disposed ribbon fingers 13 under which the ribbon is lead an'd which not only retain the ribbon stantial U-shape to afford an opening between the ribbon guides for accommodation of the type bars and has a forwardly extended, somewhat elevated slide 14, the sideedges of which are slidably received within kerfs 15 and the downturned extremities of the front supporting and guiding fingers 16 extended forwardly from the bottom of the bracket 4. The slide 14 is provided with suitable stops 17 and 18 which engage the supporting structure and limit the sliding movement of the vibrator.

Mounted on the front bar 3 of the type ring 3 is a line finder shaft 19 accommodated by bearing brackets 20 secured to. the bar. At its inner end, the shaft 19 is provided with an arm 21 pivotally connected to the rear end of the line finder 22 which constantly tends to move upward under the impulse of a spring 23 located in the connection between the arm and finder. This spring holds the finder against the under side of the bar 6 and in a sufliciently elevated position to prevent interference with the ribbon. The bodyportion of the line finder, however, is cam-shape or longitudinally curved so that when the lower end of the arm 21 is swung rearwardly the line finder is urged rearwardly and at the same time its rear end is elevated.

Theresult of these peculiarities of form and movement is to cause the rear end of the line finder to move back and downward to the printing point, the usual notch in its rear edge serving to locate the exact oint of printing. At its outer end the line finder shaft 19 is provided with an arm 24: which is disposed vertically and has its upper end in operative relation to the lower end of an arm 25 of a rock shaft 26 mounted in the carriage casing adjacent to its front left hand corner, as for instance, in a bracket 27 and having a short arm 28 connected to the inner end of the stem 29 of the line finder key 30, said stem extending through the front of the carriage casing, as shown.

It is thought that from the foregoing, the construction and operation of the described embodiment of my invention will be clearly understood, but I wish distinctly to reserve the right to effect such changes, modifications or variations of the illustrated structure as may fall fairly within the scope of the protection prayed.

What I claim is 1. In a typewriter, the combination with a stationary platen, of a line finder normally withdrawn from the line, means for moving the line finder toward the line of writing and means effective during such movement to urge the line finder toward the platen.

2. In a typewriter, the combination with a platen, of a line finder movable longitudinally toward and from the line of writing and means for oamming the line finder laterally toward the platen during this movement toward the line. 7

3. In a typewriter, the combination with a stationary platen, of a swinging arm, a line finder pivoted on the arm, means for swinging the arm to advance the line finder longitudinally and means operated during such advance to swing the line finder relative to the arm and laterally into close proximity to the platen.

4:. In a typewriter, the combination with a stationary platen, of a swinging arm, a line finder pivoted to the arm, a spring tending to urge the line finder away from the platen, means for swinging the arm to advance the line finder and means for urging the line finder toward the platen in opposition tothe spring.

5. In a typewriter, the combination with a platen, a line finder having the form of a cam, means for moving the line finder toward the line and a fixed part coacting with the line finder during such movement to cam the line finder toward the laten.

6. In a typewriter, the combination with a platen, of a movable line finder support, a fixed bar, a cam shaped line finder carried by the support and coacting with the bar and means for moving the support.

7. In a typewriter, the combination with a platen, of a swinging arm, a cam shaped line finder swung from the arm, a fixed bar coacting with the line finder to cam the latter toward the platen, a spring tending to urge the line finder away from the platen and into engagement with the bar and means for swinging the arm to advance the line finder. and to cause the same to be urged toward the platen in opposition to the spring.

8. In a typewriter, the combination with a type ring having a front bar, of a line finder support carried by the bar and a line finder carried by the support and movable toward and from the printing point.

9. In a typewriter, the combination with a ty e ring having a bar, of a guide bracket earned by the bar, a vibrator guided by the bracket, a cam shaped line finder and a camming bar carried by the bracket and coacting with the line finder.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HARRY ARTHUR FOOTHORAP.

Witnesses:

J F. CULvnRwnLL, MARSHALL H. DEAN. 

